Our Enemy: the World

"every Christian's battle" -- Satan (personal being influencing toward evil)/the flesh/the world


Greek word " Cosmos = 1) creation (mountains, trees, birds, etc.) - Acts 17:24
                                   = 2)  population on this world - John 3:16

used in combination --- John 1:10, 9:5 -  2 different uses

                                 = 3)  that viewpoint, perspective, mindset which is contrary to God's will
                                         that philosophy, outlook, worldview, life view which is in opposition to God's
                                         revelation.
Our enemy is not necessarily people but mindset

John 15:18-19, 17:13-20 - (evil one behind world perspective)

Illustration:  Zeitgeist (time and spirit) -- "the Spirit of the Age"
in other words:  the popular, accepted, current worldview. 

2 questions:  1)  what is the spirit of our age?  (difficult to determine)
                    2)  what are the views of our age?  (easier to determine)

Current 'views' of the age:
1.  Atheism - "there is no God" - only 2 - 5% of the population BUT very influential!

2.  Agnosticism - " we cannot know".  Therefore, do what seems best to you.

3.  Relativism - "truth varies and changes" - may be true for you but not for me.

4.  Humanism - "man is the measure" (not God, Scripture, Jesus Christ) - right/wrong determined by "is it good for us... NOW??

5.  Pragmatism - "does it work?" - ie:  achieve, accomplish -- Now!!  If it works, must be true.   We
re to think eternity - what we do now affects forever.

6.  Hedonism - "pleasure is the measure" - of good in life

7.  Existentialism - "there is no measure" - we're the result of natural process, life has no meaning
Therefore, we must create our own measure(s)

Therefore, difficult to nail down THE Current View!!  But, it's easy to see the many current views!

Example:  combination of above:  contemporary view(s) of... sex?  marriage?  abortion?  man's origin?  destiny?  duty?  sin?  redemption?  holiness??

Warning:  Eph. 2:1-2 (demonic inspired philosophy)
                 Col. 2:6-8 - be careful.  Christians very susceptible to this.
                 1 John 2:15 - not referring to things or world or people 
                 1 John 2:16,17 - lust, cravings, etc.

The World (as defined here) is our enemy ..... (these views work against us..)

1)  They are contrary to God's View  (Revelation)
2)  They deceive
3)  They seduce - ie:  lead us astray and AWAY!!  away from God/Godliness (toward?? destruction)
4) They are promoted by Satan - John 17:15  Eph. 2:2, 6:12 - Example:  Kings of Babylon, Tyre (scripture seems to be looking at the power behind the throne)
5)  Christians are not immune to these influences
BUT...
6)  Christians needn't succumb to these influences - Rom. 12:2

A)  examine the claims (of the Bible, Christianity)
B)  Accept, receive Christ
C)  Continue in the faith - grow in knowledge, grow in practice

1 John 5:3-5